Editorial: Asheville Report Card

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space. Got an idea that makes the grade? Send it to JBuchanan@CITIZEN-TIMES.com

Reader grades

A to Rob Neufeld for his beautifully wrought essay on courage, "A journey from paralysis to genius" (Sun. Aug 25) and to Jim Buchanan for his ode to teachers, "The season of miracles arrives once again" (Sun. Aug. 25).

F to the Citizen-Times for the insensitive "Where's Susan" insert (Sun. Aug. 25) re pink-slipped columnist Susan Reinhardt, stating: "Susan Reinhardt has left the Citizen-Times, and her column will no longer appear in these pages . . . ."

Nancy Dillingham, Asheville

Staff grades

C to the dustup between Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and the Department of Public Instruction over Common Core State Standards, new learning goals adopted here and in states around the country. Common Core has become a topic of fierce criticism in conservative circles, circles in which Forest runs. In July, Forest sent a letter to DPI with 67 questions and 150 sub questions laden with document requests, etc. The response: 12 boxes, 40,000 pieces of paper, references to 134 web sites, 320 separate reports and a thumb drive, among other things. Forest was not amused, and has he vowed to mail a copy of the DPI response to every legislator, county commissioner, school superintendent and school board member in North Carolina. The response from DPI seems a bit over the top. But given the detail of Forest's questions, not by much.

D to North Carolina's decision to cut in line in the presidential primary pecking order. On paper, this seemed like a good idea, one that could give the state more of a voice in picking national leadership. In reality, the elections overhaul bill signed by Gov. Pat McCrory could draw sanctions from the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee for moving up without their permission. Republicans could cut the state's national convention delegate total dramatically, down to 12. N.C. had 55 in at the 2012 GOP convention. The dates and potential punishment aren't set in stone. What is: the fact N.C. will be holding a separate presidential primary, a costly venture for local governments and one that could dilute turnout in the primary for other races.

A to the little-noticed move last year by state lawmakers to expand the chances for adults to expunge low-level felony convictions or first-time nonviolent crime misdemeanors. More than 150 lawyers statewide have volunteered to help people clean up their record. The law isn't a Get Out of Jail Free card; it allows those with the aforementioned first-time and low-level offenses to have those records erased after 15 years if they've demonstrated good behavior and "good moral character.'' It will help these people in returning to the workforce and reopen opportunities for things like occupational licenses.

A to the reopening on Monday of a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that had been closed after a giant crack formed in the roadway. Workers built bypass lanes that will allow two-way traffic between Milepost 376 and Mount Mitchell State Park. The opening comes just ahead of the critical fall tourism season. The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and Picnic Area, located at Milepost 364, was also reopened on Monday. The 500 foot long by-pass restores two-way traffic through the area affected by significant structural damage as a result of unusually heavy rainfall totals earlier this summer.

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Editorial: Asheville Report Card

A to Rob Neufeld for his beautifully wrought essay on courage, 'A journey from paralysis to genius' (Sun. Aug 25) and to Jim Buchanan for his ode to teachers, 'The season of miracles arrives once